China is advancing its lunar exploration program, aiming to bring back the first-ever samples from the moon's far side in its upcoming Chang'e-6 mission, scheduled for next year. The preparations are reportedly proceeding smoothly, with a relay satellite to be deployed in the first half of the year.
In addition to Chang'e-6, China is looking ahead to the Chang'e-8 mission in 2028 and is calling for increased global collaboration in lunar exploration. This collaboration could involve joint projects, spacecraft launch and orbit operations, and exploring the moon's surface with international partners.
The Chang'e-8 mission is expected to accommodate 200 kilograms of foreign science payloads, allowing overseas collaborators to conduct lunar research alongside the mission. China's broader goal is to contribute valuable data toward the construction of a permanent international lunar research station on the moon's south pole by 2040.
China has been making significant strides in space exploration, including sending a rover to the moon's far side in 2019, completing its orbital Tiangong space station, and planning a manned mission to the moon by 2030.
While China's space ambitions grow, other countries like India, Russia, and the United States are also pursuing lunar missions with the aim of scientific advancement, national prestige, and deep space exploration opportunities.
China's Chang'e-6 mission aims to deepen our understanding of the moon's far side by collecting samples in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a region of high scientific interest. International partners will contribute instruments and satellites to the mission, further enhancing its scientific capabilities.
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